Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs Apple iPhone 16 Plus: SAR comparison

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 1.13 W/kg vs 1.20 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus (6% lower). Reported SAR values in W/kg; lower is shaded green and higher red within each row, for comparison only.

Side-by-side SAR values

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs Apple iPhone 16 Plus reported SAR and specs
MeasurementSamsung Galaxy S25 PlusApple iPhone 16 Plus
Head SAR, cellular only (US)1.20 W/kg1.13 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)0.83 W/kg1.16 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.59 W/kg1.35 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.58 W/kg1.55 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)1.19 W/kg1.16 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.59 W/kg1.55 W/kg
Display: TypeDynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
Display: Size6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~91.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~513 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Display: ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Ceramic Shield glass (2024 gen)
Hardware: Operating SystemAndroid 15, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 7iOS 18
Hardware: ChipsetQualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)Apple A18 (3 nm)
Hardware: CPUOcta-core (2x4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)Hexa-core
Hardware: GPUAdreno 830Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
Battery: TypeLi-Ion 4900 mAhLi-Ion, non-removable
Battery: Charging45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi2 Ready) 4.5W reverse wirelessWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised) 25W wireless (MagSafe), 15W wireless (China only) 15W wireless (Qi2) 4.5W reverse wired
Design: TypeBarBar
Design: Dimensions158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm (6.24 x 2.98 x 0.29 in)160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm (6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 in)
Design: Weight190 g (6.70 oz)199 g (7.02 oz)
Design: ColorsIcy Blue, Mint, Navy, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold, Coral Red, Blue BlackBlack, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine

Colors make differences within the same measurement easy to see. They do not label a phone safe or unsafe. US values use 1 g of tissue and the 1.6 W/kg limit; EU values use 10 g and 2 W/kg, so don't mix them. What SAR tells you.

Questions and answers

Which has lower head SAR, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus or the Apple iPhone 16 Plus?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 1.13 W/kg vs 1.20 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus (6% lower). Values are reported maximums from FCC filings as listed in the RF Safe dataset, in W/kg averaged over 1 gram of tissue.

Which has lower body SAR, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus or the Apple iPhone 16 Plus?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 0.83 W/kg vs 1.16 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 16 Plus (28% lower). Values are reported maximums from FCC filings as listed in the RF Safe dataset, in W/kg averaged over 1 gram of tissue.

Which has lower hotspot SAR (Wi-Fi + cellular), the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus or the Apple iPhone 16 Plus?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.55 W/kg vs 1.59 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus (3% lower). Values are reported maximums from FCC filings as listed in the RF Safe dataset, in W/kg averaged over 1 gram of tissue.

What is the highest reported SAR value for each phone?

Across the six US measurements, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus's highest listed value is 1.59 W/kg and the Apple iPhone 16 Plus's is 1.55 W/kg. The FCC limit for the head and body is 1.6 W/kg averaged over 1 gram. Wi-Fi + cellular values are simultaneous-transmission sums and are evaluated differently, so read each row on its own.

Does a lower SAR mean a phone is safer?

No. SAR is a lab compliance measurement taken at maximum power. Everyday exposure depends on signal strength, distance from the body and which radios are active. Use SAR to compare phones, not as a health score.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the RF Safe SAR dataset, compiled from FCC equipment authorization filings (FCC ID A3LSMS936B and BCG-E8692A). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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